1. What is your name and and pronouns?
I’m Connor Telford (he/they).
2. What is your research interest and why?
My research primarily revolves around canonization and intertextuality. I’m particularly fascinated with the reinforcement of canonical works through intertextual referencing.
3. What drew you to UW?
I was drawn to UW's program due to its strong foregrounding of graduate students as future educators. I applied to graduate school with the goal of becoming a professor myself, and although UW's CMS department also heavily encourages research and community engagement, it was their unique emphasis on education that sealed the deal. (Being a fully-funded program also helped!)
4. What have you found most rewarding and impactful about the program so far?
The most rewarding part of the program is being exposed to the research of my professors and fellow scholars! The people in the department investigate complexities that would have never occurred to me, and they do it with admirable passion and vigor. It inspires me to dig deeper into my own work and connect better with the world around me, and communing with others has made me a significantly better scholar.
5. What advice would you give to undergraduate students considering a graduate program?
My best advice to prospective graduate students is to know your purpose for applying and to have conviction! Go into your applications with a goal and believe in your ability to accomplish it. Also, get feedback from people around you and read your writing out loud. You'll find so many ways to improve your work if you orate it, even if it's embarrassing.
6. What is your favorite movie and why?
I mean, can any film student just choose one? I have four favorite films, each for different reasons. Casablanca is the film I'd save if every film burned and I could only save one. The Spy Who Loved Me is the film I enjoy watching the most. The 400 Blows is the film that makes me appreciate cinema the most. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is the film that's most personal to me. I could never choose between those four, and I'm lucky that I don't have to!